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John William "Billy" Macfarlane was born on March 17, 1885 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He came to Routt County as a young boy in 1898 and lived with his family in Yampa. "Billy" moved to Steamboat Springs in 1937 when he was appointed Undersheriff. In 1944 he ran for the office of Sheriff and was elected. He served two 4 year terms, retiring in 1952 to seek an appointment as U. S. Marshall. He was the first sheriff to have a police radio. In about 1948 the Colorado Courtesy Patrol (now Colorado State Patrol) put an officer in Craig to cover the highways of Routt County. The Patrol put up an antenna on a high point west of Craig and had a dispatcher. Sheriff MacFarlane would radio messages to the Courtesy Patrol and they would pass them on by phone as necessary. When the sheriff was off duty the Steamboat telephone operators would contact him if there was an emergency. "Billy" was a graduate of the Institute of Applied Science at Chicago, Illinois and became a finger print expert. "Billy" Macfarlane was active in the community and was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Yampa and was a past master. He was also a member of Colorado Peace Officers Association, The National Sheriff's Association, International Footprinters Association and the National Association of County Officials. "Billy" Macfarlane died May 12, 1955 at his home in Steamboat Springs. Burial was in the Yampa cemetery.
Resource:
Steamboat Pilot May 19, 1955
Jay MacFarlane
© 2004 Joyce Cusick nacpinc@hotmail.com
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